Vauxhall Bridge | London Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia Opening Date 26 May 1906 Vauxhall Bridge is a steel arched bridge for road and foot traffic, crossing the River Thames in a north-west south-east orientation, between Lambeth Bridge and Grosvenor Bridge , in central London . On the north bank is Westminster , with Tate Britain and the Millbank Tower to the north-east, and Pimlico and its tube station to the north and east. On the south bank, Vauxhall Cross, site of Vauxhall Station and the headquarters of MI6 , lies immediately to the south-east; Kennington is to the east, Vauxhall to the south-east and Nine Elms to the south west. St George Wharf is located beside the bridge on the southern bank. The River Effra , one of the Thames's many underground tributaries, empties into the main river just to the east of the bridge on the south bank. History Edit One of the eight Vauxhall Bridge figures, here depicting Fine Art.

(October 2005) The current bridge was designed by Sir Alexander Binnie, with modifications by Maurice Fitzmaurice, to replace a previous cast-iron structure. It was built by Petwick Brothers. It was completed in 1906, and opened on the May 26 by the Prince of Wales, and was the first bridge to carry trams across the Thames. It measures 80ft wide by 809ft long, has five steel arches mounted on granite piers, and its most striking feature is a series of bronze female figures on the bridge abutments, both upstream and downstream, commemorating the arts and sciences. The four upstream figures are by F. W. Pomeroy, the four downstream by Alfred Drury. The previous bridge was the nine-span Regent's Bridge, designed by James Walker and opened in 1816 as a toll-bridge. The history leading up to the construction of this bridge was tortuous with at least three aborted designs rejected, two by John Rennie—first a seven-span stone bridge, and then a design with eleven cast-iron arches—and one by Sir Samuel Bentham.

The Vauxhall iron bridge, looking west, in 1816. On the right can be seen part of Millbank Penitentiary under construction. The Vauxhall Bridge in 1829 Walker's nine-span structure was the first iron-built bridge over the Thames in London, but it lasted less than 90 years. Tidal scour undermined the bridge's piers and these were too expensive to replace. A temporary wooden bridge was constructed across the river and demolition work began in 1898, but construction of the Binnie bridge did not start until 1904. The bridge was declared a Grade II listed structure in 2008, providing protection to preserve its special character from unsympathetic development. VAUXHALL BRIDGE - 1393011| Historic England VAUXHALL BRIDGE List Entry Summary This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest. Name: VAUXHALL BRIDGE The building may lie within the boundary of more than one authority. County: Greater London Authority Date of most recent amendment: Not applicable to this List entry.

Legacy System Information The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system. Legacy System: LBS UID: 496912 Asset Groupings This list entry does not comprise part of an Asset Grouping. Asset Groupings are not part of the official record but are added later for information. List entry Description Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details. Reasons for Designation Vauxhall Bridge is designated for the following principal reasons: * It was designed by two chief engineers of the London County Council, Sir Alexander Binnie and his successor Sir Maurice Fitzmaurice and was opened in 1906. * It has outstanding architectural significance for the work by sculptors Alfred Drury RA and Frederick Pomeroy RA which adorns the piers. The work is not only unique - no other British river crossing contains sculpture - but also of a very high quality. * The design of the bridge, the work of two engineers of considerable significance, is also of note and the piers carry a superstructure of remarkable elegance given the breadth of the carriageway above.

* Furthermore, Vauxhall Bridge is sited near a group of listed buildings and has group value with Lambeth Bridge of 1929 (also recommended, at Grade II). History Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details. Details 1900/0/10196 Vauxhall Bridge 26-NOV-08 GV II* Road bridge, 1904-6, by Sir Alexander Binnie and his successor Sir Maurice Fitzmaurice, incorporating sculpture by Frederick Pomeroy RA and Alfred Drury RA. Late C20 alterations. DESCRIPTION: Vauxhall Bridge is a five-span steel arch bridge with concrete piers and abutments faced with granite. It has a length of 231.6m comprising five spans, the central one 45.4m long and the intermediate and shore spans 43.9m and 39.6m respectively. The carriageway is 15.2m wide with a double tram track in the centre and is capable of carrying four lanes of road traffic. Flanking the carriageway are two footways.

The superstructure, constructed entirely of steel and iron, consists of five two-pinned arches each formed from thirteen steel ribs bearing on steel skewbacks built into the abutments or resting on the piers. The steel plate decking, where it does not rest directly on the ribs or the framing of the piers, is carried on longitudinal joists supported on stanchions standing on the ribs. The foundations of the abutments and piers consist of solid masses of Portland cement concrete cased in sheet-piling. Although the bridge has had some recent alterations, particularly to the parapets, it retains its visual and structural integrity. The bridge's ornamental design is unique in that it is decorated with female bronze figures on either side representing the functions of local government, a theme no doubt determined by the LCC. Looking downstream, Drury's figures represent Government, Education, Fine Art and Science/Astronomy and facing upstream Pomeroy's represent Agriculture (holding a shepherd's crook and a sheaf of corn), Architecture (holding a model of St Paul's Cathedral), Engineering (holding a very detailed steam engine and mallet) and Pottery (holding a vase/pot).

The bridge is painted in burgundy and orange, with a blue and white trim. HISTORY: Vauxhall Bridge was designed by two chief engineers of the London County Council, Sir Alexander Binnie (1839-1916) and his successor Sir Maurice Fitzmaurice (1861-1924), incorporating sculpture by Frederick Pomeroy RA (1856-1924) and Alfred Drury RA (1856-1944). The contractors for the piers and foundations were Messrs. Pethick Bros, and for the superstructure, Mr Charles Wall. Vauxhall Bridge was opened in 1906 by the Prince of Wales who later became King George V and cost £466,725. It was the first bridge to carry trams across the Thames. It is now thought that there has been a bridge on, or very near, this site for as long as 3500 years. In 1998, the Thames Archaeological Survey found the remains of an oak crossing dating to around 1500 BC.

This bridge may not have crossed the entire Thames but could have been a walkway to a now submerged island. The current Vauxhall Bridge replaced an earlier bridge, known as the Regent's Bridge, completed in 1816 and the first iron bridge to span the Thames. Consisting of nine 23.8m openings spanned by cast iron arch ribs on masonry piers, this earlier bridge was built to a design by Sir S Bentham that was modified by James Walker. Tolls were initially charged in 1816, as the Vauxhall Bridge Company hoped to make a good income out of people going to and from the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens; these tolls were abolished in 1879. After the removal of the Old London Bridge in 1831, there was a serious alteration in the tidal flow of the river and the water level lowered. Vauxhall Bridge was repaired several times but after tidal scours caused severe damage to the bridge the repairs were deemed too expensive.

In 1879, ownership of the bridge was transferred by the Company to the Metropolitan Board of Works, and in 1894 their successors, the London County Council, decided to replace the bridge because of increasing traffic and the need for improved approaches and waterways. Demolition work started in 1898 and a temporary wooden bridge was erected across the river. Although built under the authority of an Act of 1895, construction of the new bridge did not begin until 1904. REASONS FOR DESIGNATION: * Vauxhall Bridge has outstanding architectural significance for the work by sculptors Alfred Drury and Frederick Pomeroy which adorns the piers. The work is not only unique - no other British river crossing contains sculpture - but also of a very high quality. * The design of the bridge, the work of two engineers of considerable significance, is also of note and the piers carry a superstructure of remarkable elegance given the breadth of the carriageway above.

* Furthermore, Vauxhall Bridge is sited near a number of listed buildings: 46-57 Millbank (Grade II); a terrace of houses and the Morpeth Arms public house (grade II) both of c.1843-45 and built as part of Thomas Cubitt's Pimlico development. * It and has group value with Lambeth Bridge of 1929. SOURCES: G Phillips, 'Thames Crossings' (1981), 198-200/ EI Carlyle, 'Binnie, Sir Alexander Richardson (1839-1917)', rev. Alan Muir Wood, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (2004)/ EI Carlyle, 'Fitzmaurice, Sir Maurice (1861-1924)', rev. RC Cox, ibid. Mark Stocker, 'Drury, (Edward) Alfred Briscoe (1856-1944)', ibid. Mark Stocker, 'Pomeroy, Frederick William (1856-1924)', ibid. WC Copperthwaite, `Vauxhall Bridge' in 'Inst.

of Civil Engineers Proceedings' (1907)/ S Croad, London's Bridges (1983). British Bridges: An Illustrated Technical and Historical Record (London, Public Works, Roads and Transport Congress, 1933), 190-91. The course of construction was followed by the 'Engineer' between 1903 and 1907. Selected Sources Croad, S, Londons Bridges, (1983) Phillips, G, Thames Crossings, (1981) National Grid Reference: TQ 30088 78212 Map © Crown Copyright and database right 2016. All rights reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence number 100024900. © British Crown and SeaZone Solutions Limited 2016. All rights reserved. Licence number 102006.006. Use of this data is subject to Terms and Conditions . The above map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale.

For a copy of the full scale map, please see the attached PDF - 1393011 .pdf The PDF will be generated from our live systems and may take a few minutes to download depending on how busy our servers are. We apologise for this delay. This copy shows the entry on 23-Dec-2016 at 05:30:51. End of official listing Happy New Year 2008 Vauxhall Bridge - YouTube Happy New Year 2008 Vauxhall Bridge Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Uploaded on Dec 31, 2007 Vauxhall Bridge is a steel arched bridge for road and foot traffic, crossing the River Thames in a north-west south-east orientation, between Lambeth Bridge and Grosvenor Bridge, in central London. On the north bank is Westminster, with Tate Britain and the Millbank Tower to the north-east, and Pimlico and its tube station to the north and east.

On the south bank, Vauxhall Cross, site of Vauxhall station and the headquarters of MI6, lies immediately to the south-east; Kennington is to the east, Vauxhall to the south-east and Nine Elms to the south west. The River Effra, one of the Thames's many underground tributaries, empties into the main river just to the east of the bridge on the south bank. The current bridge was designed by Sir Alexander Binnie, with modifications by Maurice Fitzmaurice, to replace a previous cast-iron structure. It was completed in 1906, and opened on the May 26 by the Prince of Wales, and was the first bridge to carry trams across the Thames. It measures 80ft wide by 809ft long, has five steel arches mounted on granite piers, and its most striking feature is a series of bronze female figures on the bridge abutments, both upstream and downstream, commemorating the arts and sciences. The previous bridge was the nine-span Regent's Bridge, designed by James Walker and opened in 1816 as a toll-bridge.

The history leading up to the construction of this bridge was tortuous with at least three aborted designs rejected, two by John Rennie—first a seven-span stone bridge, and then a design with eleven cast-iron arches—and one by Sir Samuel Bentham. The Vauxhall Bridge in 1829 Walker's nine-span structure was the first iron-built bridge over the Thames in London, but it lasted less than 90 years. Tidal scour undermined the bridge's piers and these were too expensive to replace. A temporary wooden bridge was constructed across the river and demolition work began in 1898, but construction of the Binnie bridge did not start until 1904. Category Vauxhall Bridge, London, Tourist information | tourUK.co.uk Tourist Information London Post Code : SW1 - SE1 In 1809 an Act of Parliament authorised one more bridge, and Vauxhall Bridge was conceived as part of a great new thoroughfare from Hyde Park Corner to Greenwich. In 1811 the foundation stone was laid by Lord Thomas Dundas, standing in for the Prince Regent. Originally named Regent's Bridge, the name Vauxhall Bridge was restored during construction.

Designed by the engineer James Walker, this was the first iron bridge to span the Thames. The nine-arched cast-iron structure stood in deeply embedded stone, faced with granite, 809 ft and 36 ft wide. Tolls were charged after the bridge opened in 1816 but in 1879 these were abolished. Tidal scour had made the piers in a dangerous condition. Repairs to the bridge were too expensive but the construction of a new bridge was delayed. A temporary wooden bridge was thrown out across the river and demolition work began in 1898. However, work on the new structure did not begin until 1904. The present bridge five-arch steel bridge was designed by Sir Maurice Fitzmaurice. The five spans make up a crossing of 809 ft, with a width of 80ft. Vauxhall Bridge was opened in 1906 by the Prince of Wales (later George V). The bridge was the first in London to carry trams. Vauxhall Bridge is unique in having it's piers decorated by heroic-sized bronze statues.

Sculpted by Frederick Pomeroy and Alfred Drury, these female figures represent the Arts and Sciences. The figures facing downstream, towards Westminster, represent Local Government, ducation, the Fine Arts, and Astronomy. Facing upstream away from London are figures representing Agriculture, holding a scythe, Architecture, holding a model of St Paul's Cathedral, and Engineering, holding an engine and Pottery, holding a vase. SECRET LONDON / Trivia / Thames_Bridges SHOPPING TAKE A BREAK PEOPLE CALENDAR LINKS BLOG CONTACT There are 33 bridges across the tidal Thames from Teddington Lock to the open sea. The first of those is Richmond, the last the Dartford Crossing, or Queen Elizabeth II bridge. Here is some trivia about the most interesting of the ones in Central London. Any comments - or a suggestion for a London secret? Please e-mail me . Thames Bridges Vauxhall Bridge The first bridge to carry a tram over the Thames. Built of steel, on granite piers, it was opened in 1906 and features eight bronze female sculptures representing the arts and sciences, made to use up surplus funds from the bridge-building.

The River Effra flows under the MI6 building and into the Thames to the south of the bridge. Tube: Vauxhall Southwark Bridge Opened in 1921, this replaced one designed by John Rennie that was noted for having the longest cast iron span (73 m) ever made, a bridge mentioned often by Charles Dickens. Below the bridge on the south side are some steps once used by Thames watermen to moor up while waiting for custom. Tube: Southwark Waterloo Bridge The first bridge on this site was finished in 1817, two years after the Battle of Waterloo, for which it was named. This bridge opened in 1945, being built by a largely female workforce during World War II and is therefore known as the Ladies' Bridge. It was also the only Thames bridge damaged by German bombs during the war. Tube: Waterloo Albert Bridge One of the few suspension bridges in London, and also among the most picturesque especially when illuminated at night. Designed by Rowland Ordish and opened in 1873 as a toll bridge, the toll-houses remain in place, but unused. With a reputation for being shaky, notices at both ends warn marching troops to break step when crossing.

Tube: Sloane Square Blackfriars Bridge Blackfriars Bridge is a road and foot traffic bridge. The first bridge here opened in 1769 - the third bridge after old London Bridge and Westminster Bridge. It was named after the nearby Blackfriars Monastery. The present bridge was opened in 1869 by Queen Victoria and has five wrought iron arches to a design by Thomas Cubitt. Tube: Blackfriars London Bridge This site dates backs to Roman times and was the first crossing of the Thames. The medieval bridge stood for more than 600 years being replaced only in 1831 with one whose lights were cast from Napoleonic cannons. This bridge - lights and all - was famously then sold to America, with the present bridge opening in 1973. Tube: London Bridge Tower Bridge This historic bridge is still raised about 20 times a week to allow tall ships, cruise liners and other large boats to pass underneath. You can trust to luck, or check the website below, which lists the upcoming lifting schedule.

Tower Bridge EC1 Thames Bridges Thames Bridges Thames Bridges Albert Bridge Designed by Roland Mason Ordish and built in 1873 this suspension bridge was named after Prince Albert, the husband of Queen Victoria. It was originally a toll bridge and, although tolls were abolished in 1879, the toll booths still remain. Nowadays, the bridge is not strong enough to carry modern traffic and a weight limit of two tons was introduced in 1973. Of interest are the notices on the bridge which instruct marching troops to break step when crossing it! The Albert bridge is at its most beautiful at night when it is illuminated by thousands of electric light bulbs. Barnes Bridge In 1847 the Windsor, Staines and South-Western Railway was given permission to build a line from Barnes to Feltham. The bridge to carry this line across the Thames was designed by Joseph Locke and Thomas Brassey and opened in 1849. The line was popular for passengers and freight, avoiding as it did the busy and congested route through Richmond.

The bridge was also very popular as a vantage point from which to see the closing stages of the University Boat Race - special trains were laid on to allow spectators to enjoy the view from the comfort of a railway carriage. The bridge was strengthened to cope with increasing traffic in 1891-95, at which time the footbridge was added. This was made especially strong to support the crowds that traditionally gathered for the Boat Race. However, the footbridge is now closed during the race. Battersea / Wandsworth Railway Bridge This railway bridge was opened in 1863 as part of the West London Extension Railway. This connected lines running from Waterloo and Victoria with those from Euston and Paddington and it carried both standard and the broad gauge railway tracks needed for Great Western Railway stock. The bridge still carries the only north-south route through London but is now subject to a speed limit of 15 mph. Battersea Bridge In 1771 a timber bridge was built to replace a ferry that had existed at this location for many centuries. The bridge had 19 narrow spans and was a severe navigational hazard for river craft.

The bridge was the subject of a well-known painting by the artist Whistler but it became unsafe and was demolished in 1885. The present 5 span bridge was designed by Sir Joseph Bazalgette for the Metropolitan Board of Works and opened in 1890. Blackfriars Bridge This bridge was designed by Joseph Cubbit and opened by Queen Victoria in 1869. It replaced an earlier stone structure and features stone pillars shaped like pulpits between iron arches. These pillars were designed to resemble the interior of a church to commemorate the 13th century Dominican monastery that gave its name to Blackfriars. Cannon Street Railway Bridge This bridge was designed by Sir John Hawkshaw for the South Eastern Railway and opened for traffic in 1866. It originally had two footpaths. One was reserved for railway employees but the other was open to the general public on payment of a toll. The tolls were abolished in 1877. The bridge was widened and strengthened in 1898 at which time the footpaths were removed. Since then the bridge has been rebuilt twice, the latest version being constructed by British Railways in 1981.

Chelsea Bridge The first Chelsea bridge was designed by Thomas Page and opened in 1858. Like the present bridge, this was a suspension bridge and was described at the time as the most beautiful of the bridges that crossed the Thames. It gave access to Battersea Park, which had been laid out just before the bridge was built. Tolls were payable, and this led to complaints that "Government gave a park to the people but placed a toll-bar at the gate to keep them out". The tolls were abolished in 1879. The old bridge was demolished in 1935 and the new suspension bridge was provided with much stronger foundations to cope with increasing traffic levels. Chiswick Bridge This bridge formed part of a major road improvement scheme and was designed by Sir Herbert Baker. It is virtually on the finishing line of the University Boat Race and was one of three Thames bridges opened by the Prince of Wales on the same day in 1933. Grosvenor Railway Bridge This bridge is also known as the Victoria Bridge and the first railway bridge to cross the Thames into central London. It was designed by Sir John Fowler for the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway and opened in 1860.

A second bridge to match the existing structure was designed by Sir Charles Fox for the London, Chatham and Dover Railway. This was built alongside the existing bridge in 1866. A third bridge was built in 1907 to increase the number of tracks into Victoria Station up to ten. All three bridges were replaced between 1963 and 1967 and there are now in effect ten separate bridges each carrying one railway line. Hammersmith Bridge The first bridge here, designed by William Clarke and opened in 1827, was the first suspension bridge to span the Thames. The current structure, also a suspension bridge, was designed by Sir Joseph Bazalgette and opened in 1887. Of all the London bridges, this one offers the least headroom over the River. It is a favourite vantage point from which to watch the University Boat Race. Hammersmith is one of the most attractive of London's bridges. This is especially true at night after a new lighting scheme was installed in 2000. The bridge is too narrow for modern traffic and is now subject to a weight limit of 7.5 tons. A priority traffic system for buses is also now in operation.

Hungerford Railway and Pedestrian Bridges These bridges take their name from Hungerford Market which was situated on the site now occupied by Charing Cross Station. The first bridge at this location was designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel and opened in 1845 to provide pedestrian access to the Market. The bridge was purchased in 1859 by the South Eastern Railway so it could extend the line from London Bridge to the proposed new Charing Cross Station. The chains and other suspension parts of Brunel's Thames bridge were used to finish his other bridge across the Avon Gorge in Bristol in memory of the famous engineer who had recently died. The new railway bridge, which utilised Brunel's original foundations and piers, was completed in 1864 and included two toll footpaths which the Railway Company was obliged to maintain. The tolls were abolished in 1878 and one of the footpaths was replaced by track in 1882. However, the bridge remained as the only London crossing to take both rail and pedestrian traffic. The single footpath was replaced in 2000 by two new suspension footbridges designed by Lifshutz Davidson.

These new landmarks provide good views of the Thames towards Westminster. Kew Bridge The first bridge at this location was built of wood in 1759 and replaced a horse powered ferry. The power of the currents in the Thames started to damage the wooden piers so the bridge was replaced by a stone structure designed by James Paine thirty years later in 1789. The new bridge was opened by King George III. In 1873 ownership of the bridge passed to the Metropolitan Board of Works and tolls were abolished. The bridge was later transferred to the Middlesex and Surrey County Councils. The present bridge, the third to occupy this site, was designed by Sir John Wolfe-Barry and CA Breton and opened by King Edward VII in 1903. The bridge was re-named the King Edward VII Bridge to commemorate this, but this name proved unpopular and it reverted to Kew Bridge a few years later. Kew Railway Bridge This bridge was built by the London and South Western Railway Company to extend the line from South Acton Junction to Richmond. It was designed by WR Galbraith and opened in 1869.

Lambeth Bridge The present bridge was designed by George Humphreys and opened by King George V and Queen Mary in 1932. This replaced an earlier iron suspension bridge designed by PW Barlow which was opened in 1862. Severe problems with rust to the iron structure resulted in the bridge becoming unsafe after only forty years or so. The pineapples on top of the obelisks at each end of the bridge commemorate John Tradescant, who was gardener to Charles I. He was the first man to successfully grow a pineapple in England. London Bridge Until 1750, when Westminster Bridge was built, this was London's only bridge across the Thames. The first bridge was built by the Romans in about AD 50 and was succeeded by a timber bridge built by the Saxons. The bridge was rebuilt in wood several times until the last timber bridge was built in 1163. Work started on a new stone bridge in 1176 and was completed in 1209. This was the famous old London Bridge, complete with shops, a chapel and houses.

By the middle of the 18th century a large number of the houses were occupied by pin and needle makers, whose pins can still be found on the foreshore. A new stone bridge, designed by John Rennie, was opened in 1831 by King William IV and Queen Adelaide. This bridge was in use for 140 years until it became too weak to cope with modern traffic and had to be replaced. The old bridge is now sited in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, having been removed brick by brick in 1973. The present bridge, built by Harold Knox King and opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1973, is London's widest road bridge with six traffic lanes and two footpaths. Millennium Bridge Built by Southwark Council in association with the Millennium Bridge Trust and the Corporation of London, this was the first new footbridge to be constructed over the Thames for 100 years. The bridge was designed by Foster and Partners, Ove Arup and Partners and Sir Anthony Caro and is 370 metres long, four metres wide and 9.5 metres above the river.

It was inspected and dedicated by Queen Elizabeth II on May 9 2001 and opened on June 10. The bridge was closed soon after to allow engineers to investigate a disturbing swaying effect that occurred when a large number of people crossed at the same time. After installation of a new damping system the bridge was re-opened in 2002. Putney Bridge This bridge marks the start of the annual Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race. The first bridge was of timber construction and opened in 1729. Tolls were payable but initially people were reluctant to pay these - they did not pay when they went over London Bridge, why should they pay at Putney? Two toll collectors were stationed at each end of the bridge and issued with staves which were occasionally used to persuade the public to pay. In 1730 bells were hung on the tops of the toll houses so that collectors could go to the assistance of their colleagues if they were in trouble. The present stone bridge was designed by Sir Joseph Bazalgette for the Metropolitan Board of Works and was opened by the Prince and Princess of Wales in 1886.

Putney Railway Bridge Designed by WH Thomas and William Jacomb, this bridge opened in 1889 for the London and South West Railway. The bridge is now used by the London Underground District Line. Queen Elizabeth II Bridge The Queen Elizabeth II Bridge is situated some 20 miles east of London, between Dartford in Kent and Thurrock in Essex. It carries the M25 traffic across the river from Essex to Kent. The need for a new crossing at this point was identified in the 1980's as sections of the M25, the new orbital motorway around London, were opened. It was recognised that the existing tunnels, which now carry M25 traffic from Kent to Essex, would be seriously overloaded once the motorway was finished. Work on the bridge started in August 1988 and it was opened by HM Queen Elizabeth II in October 1991. At this time it was the largest cable-supported bridge in Europe and cost £86 million to build. Traffic volumes have grown by 75% since the bridge was opened and it is now used by approximately 50 million vehicles every year.

Richmond Bridge Built in 1777 by James Paine and Kenton Couse, this is the oldest Thames bridge still in use. Before the bridge was built a ferry operated by the Crown occupied this site and was used extensively by King Henry VIII and his daughters, who spent much of their time at Richmond Palace. The bridge was transferred to Middlesex and Surrey County Councils in 1927 and was widened between 1937-39. Great care was taken to retain the original appearance and each stone was removed, numbered and replaced after the foundations had been extended. Richmond Lock Permission was granted in 1890 to build a half-lock and weir downstream of Richmond Bridge. This followed many years of petitioning since the old London Bridge was demolished in 1862. The effect of the removal of the pallisades that protected London Bridge was to cause the tides to rise and fall more rapidly than before. This effect, combined with increased dredging activities in the lower reaches of the Thames, resulted in the river at Richmond and Twickenham becoming little more than a trickle between wide mud banks for long periods of time.

A barge lock was built on the Surrey side at Richmond and this was joined by a weir to three roller slipways for small boats on the Middlesex side. The weir was opened and closed twice a day to hold water back at low tide. A superstructure was needed to house the weir mechanisms and this was constructed to form two footbridges. These were opened by the Duke and Duchess of York in 1894. Richmond Railway Bridge A new six mile line to connect Richmond with Waterloo via Clapham Junction was built by the Richmond Company in 1846. In 1847 the Staines and South Western Railway Company extended the line to Windsor via Staines and Datchet and the line crosses the Thames very near to Richmond Station. The bridge to carry this line, originally called the Richmond, Windsor and Staines Bridge, was designed by Joseph Locke and opened in 1848. A similar cast iron beam bridge near Norbury collapsed in 1891 and this caused some concern over Richmond Railway Bridge. A new bridge was commissioned to replace Locke's structure and the present bridge, designed by JW Jacomb-Hood, was opened in 1908.

Southwark Bridge The first bridge on this site was designed by John Rennie and opened in 1819. It was a toll bridge and included one of the largest cast iron arches ever built. However, within 80 years or so it was clear that the bridge was too narrow to cope with an increased amount of traffic and the decision was taken to replace it. The new bridge was completed in 1921 and was designed to ensure that the piers lined up with those of both Blackfriars and London Bridges to assist navigation. The turrets on the piers were designed by Sir Ernest George RA. Tower Bridge As traffic levels increased in the 19th century it became clear that a new bridge was needed to the east of London Bridge. This bridge would have to allow the passage of tall ships into the Port of London so the City Engineer, Sir Horace Jones, suggested a double-bascule leaf bridge. Work started in 1886 and the bridge was completed in 1894. Sir Horace Jones died just after work began and the project was completed by Sir John Wolfe Barry with the assistance of Brunel (the younger).

The bridge opened 22 times per day on average during the early years but, as commercial shipping migrated downstream, this frequency reduced. Nowadays it opens on average once a day. On one occasion, in 1953, a bus was trapped on the roadway and had to leap several feet to the other side - there were no serious injuries. Twickenham Bridge A modern road bridge designed by Maxwell Ayrton and one of three new bridges opened by the Prince of Wales in July 1933. The bridge has reinforced concrete arches with permanent hinges to allow adjustment for changes in temperature. It was the first bridge incorporating this feature to be built in Britain. Vauxhall Bridge This bridge was designed by Sir Maurice Fitzmaurice and opened in 1906. It replaced an earlier structure built in 1816 to a design by James Walker. Then called Regent's Bridge, this was the first iron bridge to be built on the Thames. The later name of Vauxhall was derived from Falkes' Hall, a nearby manor house built in the 13th century by Falkes de Breaute, a henchman of King John.

Frederick Pomeroy and Alfred Drury sculpted the bronze figures that adorn the piers on either side of the bridge. These represent the Arts and Sciences, namely Agriculture, Architecture, Engineering, Learning, Education, Astronomy and the Fine Arts. Wandsworth Bridge A wrought iron structure designed by Julian Tolmne was built here in 1873. It was of the lattice girder type and had a wooden roadway. After 60 years or so this bridge proved unable to cope with increasing levels of traffic so a new bridge was commissioned in 1935. This was designed by Sir Peirson Frank and opened in 1940. Waterloo Bridge The first bridge on this site was built by John Rennie. Originally known as the Strand Bridge, it was re-named Waterloo Bridge in 1816. It was opened in 1817 by the Prince Regent, accompanied by the Duke of Wellington, on the second anniversary of Wellington's famous victory at the Battle of Waterloo. By 1923 it was found that the three central piers were sinking and despite efforts to remedy this by reinforcing the foundations, the bridge was closed on safety grounds.

Work began on a replacement bridge to a design by Sir Gilbert Scott in 1937. This magnificent bridge with five spans each of 230 feet (70 metres) opened in 1945. It is constructed of reinforced concrete faced with Portland Stone and is the longest bridge in London. Westminster Bridge The original bridge completed in 1750 was only the second bridge to cross the Thames in London after London Bridge. The next nearest crossing point at that time was at Kingston. The new bridge met much opposition from the watermen, who made their living ferrying people across the river. The bridge featured semi-octagonal turrets at intervals to provide shelter for pedestrians but they soon became haunts for cut-throats and prostitutes. Twelve nightwatchmen were hired to guard travellers. The bridge became unsafe and work began in 1854 on a replacement designed by Thomas Page. The new bridge opened in 1862 and is the oldest bridge in use in Central London. PLA

Question: In what year did the 'Vauxhall Bridge', crossing the Thames, open?
Answer: 1906